Black Tears

Black Tears ran well for a long way on her seasonal debut in the listed mares’ hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday. She travelled well in second place behind early leader Magic Of Light, until she moved up on the inside over the third last flight and took up the running. She was immediately challenged by Elimay as they jumped the second last, but it looked like she was travelling at least as well as Willie Mullins’ mare as they rounded the home turn. She came under pressure as they straightened up for home, and she just tired from there, as Buildmeupbuttercup and Elimay fought out the finish ahead of her, and Jack Kennedy eased off on her on the run-in.

It was still a fine run by Gordon Elliott’s mare. She hasn’t won in four attempts now on her seasonal debut – although she went close last season – and she was entitled to get tired on the run-in on this, her first run since March. That last run was in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival, when she ran a big race to finish second to Dame De Compagnie off a mark of 144. She should come on for this run, and she will be of interest wherever she goes next. It may be that the Grade 3 mares’ hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival, a race in which she finished third last year, is on her radar again. She goes well at Leopardstown, on her only other run there she won the Paddy Mullins Mares’ Handicap Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival in February, and she progressed nicely through the spring last season.

Punchestown, 15th November 2020, © Sportinglife.com, 16th November 2020